Updated October 2026
TL;DR
This guide covers STEM internships for high school students in and around Boston. Across the list, students may conduct research in university and biomedical labs, explain ocean science to aquarium visitors, or work at hospitals and life sciences companies. Eight programs pay interns, while a couple charge program fees. Ladder Internships adds a fully virtual option with real startup projects and need-based financial aid.
A new cancer test, a better way to deliver a drug, or a smarter wireless network each begins as a question someone decided to test. Boston-area students live in a state the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center describes as a global leader in the life sciences. An internship lets you see how that work happens up close, whether in a research lab, hospital, company, or public science setting. That firsthand experience can help you figure out which questions, methods, and workplaces interest you.
We selected these programs based on their STEM focus, eligibility for high school students, and access for students in the Boston area, whether in person or online.
If you'd like to see what else the city offers, our guide to business internships for high school students in Boston covers options beyond STEM. Students drawn to lab work may also enjoy our roundup of research opportunities for high school students in Massachusetts.
Why should you do a STEM internship?
A STEM internship lets you test an interest in science, engineering, or technology through real work rather than textbook problems. Seeing how researchers, engineers, or clinicians work can help you make more informed choices about classes and majors. If you'd like to start with a remote project, Ladder Internships matches high school students with high-growth startups for eight weeks.
What skills can you pick up in STEM internships?
STEM internships can build practical skills like following lab protocols, recording data carefully, and analyzing results with software or code. Just as important, you practice explaining technical ideas clearly, which scientists rely on when sharing findings with colleagues or the public. Learning to troubleshoot, ask good questions, and work with a team also carries into college coursework and research.
How do you choose the right option?
Consider several factors before applying, including your grade level, location, academic background, schedule, and budget. Also check requirements related to citizenship, residency, coursework, or GPA, as these can vary significantly!
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Program type |
Top programs |
Cost/Stipend |
Best for |
|
Virtual Programs |
Fee-based (financial aid available) |
Students interested in applying coding, AI, or other technical interests to startup projects from home |
|
|
University Research Programs |
Free – $10,735 program fees; no stipend |
Students considering university research in engineering, physical sciences, computing, or other STEM disciplines |
|
|
Biomedical Research Laboratories |
Forsyth Student Scholars, Ragon RISE, CURE, Broad Summer Scholars, Project Success |
Free; stipends $15/hr - $3,600 |
Students curious about cancer, immunology, oral health, or other biomedical research careers |
|
Hospital, Industry, and Science Engagement |
New England Aquarium Teen Internships, MLSC Apprenticeship Challenge, MGH Youth Programs |
Free; stipends paid |
Students interested in healthcare environments, biotechnology workplaces, or public engagement with marine and climate science |
1. Forsyth Institute Student Scholars Summer Internship Program
Location: Somerville, Massachusetts
Stipend: $15/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 7 students
Dates: June 29 – August 21
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Enrolled in grades 9–11 in the Eastern Massachusetts/Boston area at time of application; demonstrated interest in STEM or oral health careers
You spend eight weeks in an ADA Forsyth Institute lab, learning basic laboratory techniques as you take part in your Ph.D. mentor's research in areas such as microbiology, craniofacial biology, or inflammation and immunology. You complete a personalized research project and present it at the end of the program; recent projects have covered PCR and single-cell analysis, inflammation in periodontitis, and tooth enamel hypomineralization. Weekly presentations to other students and mentors, plus college-level lectures by Forsyth scientists, can help you build your scientific communication skills.
Who is it best for: Students who want hands-on biomedical lab research with scientist mentors and are curious about careers in science or oral health.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Online (fully virtual)
Cost: Cost varies depending on the program type; full and partial need-based financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10%; 70 spots
Dates: Winter cohort: starts December 7 (8 weeks); Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts also offered
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Winter cohort: November 15 (application, then interview)
Eligibility: High school students
You work remotely on a real project for a high-growth startup in fields such as machine learning and AI, software engineering, health tech, environmental science, and deep tech; past intern work has included cybersecurity, coding minimum viable products, and fine-tuning AI for synthetic data generation. You define your project with a company coach in week 1 and present your finished work to the company in week 8, with a startup mentor guiding you along the way.
Who is it best for: Students who want to use coding, AI, or other technical interests on a real startup project with a mentor's guidance.
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: Free program, except the $75 non-refundable application fee; fee waivers may be available on request / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Less than 2.5%; 100 students
Dates: June 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: December 11
Eligibility: One year of high school remaining before graduation (apply during junior year); 16 years old by July 1 of the program year; high school seniors ineligible
You spend the first week in intensive STEM classes with professors, then do a five-week individual research internship with a mentor scientist in a field such as biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, or physics. You go through the entire research cycle: you read the current literature, carry out a detailed research plan, and give conference-style oral and written reports. The program also includes evening lectures by science and technology leaders, including Nobel laureates.
Who is it best for: Students who want to take an original, mentor-guided STEM research project from literature review to a conference-style paper and presentation.
4. Ragon Institute Summer Experience (RISE)
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Stipend: $17/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ~8 interns
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school: rising seniors or graduating seniors, aged 16+; undergraduates: completed one year of a bachelor's or community college program; attend or attended high school in Boston, Cambridge, Everett, Revere, Lynn, Brockton, Chelsea, or another Massachusetts Gateway city; cumulative GPA 3.0+; U.S. work authorization
You work in person at the Ragon Institute in Cambridge, starting with a week-one boot camp and then taking a twice-weekly Introduction to Immunology course, lectures, and journal clubs alongside your research. You are assigned to a project in the lab of a Ragon faculty mentor as a paid intern. Workshops on college and career planning, résumés and cover letters, plus field trips and a final presentation of your work to the wider community, can help you get a clearer view of careers in medical research.
Who is it best for: Students who want paid, hands-on experience in an immunology research lab and are thinking about a career in medical research.
5. New England Aquarium (Boston) – Teen Internships
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 40 interns annually
Dates: Summer: one training week plus six work weeks; Academic year (returning interns): one weekend day weekly, October – early June
Application Deadline: Summer: Not specified; Academic year: September 21
Eligibility: Ages 14 and older; majority of internships open to Boston and Cambridge residents; academic-year internships require a completed Aquarium summer internship
You work as a Visitor Services Assistant or an Interpretation and Engagement Aquarium Guide, explaining marine animals and ocean conservation issues at exhibits and running activities for large numbers of visitors. You receive extensive training in marine science, climate science, public speaking, and customer service, along with weekly professional development and ocean advocacy courses and optional behind-the-scenes workshops. Returning interns can continue in academic-year internships that may include animal care departments.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore marine and climate science by teaching aquarium visitors about ocean animals and conservation while building public speaking confidence.
6. Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center – CURE (Summer Only)
Location: Boston, Massachusetts (Longwood Medical Area)
Stipend: Paid weekly, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors; at least 16 at program start; reside in and/or attend school in Massachusetts; able to commute to Boston's Longwood Medical Area; U.S. citizen or permanent resident with I-551 card number
You spend 7–11 full-time summer weeks doing paid, hands-on cancer research with a Harvard Cancer Center faculty mentor in basic, clinical, bioinformatic, computational, population, or nursing science. Placements can be computational: in summer 2025, interns in Dana-Farber's data science group used MATLAB for biophysical modeling, applied Bayesian Boolean matrix factorization to leukemia research, and built cancer risk models. Alongside your project, you join scientific seminars, journal clubs, responsible conduct of research training, and career and networking events, then write an abstract and present your findings.
Who is it best for: Students who want paid, mentored cancer research experience, from lab biology to computational and data-driven projects, and want practice presenting their scientific findings.
7. Northeastern University – Young Scholars Program (YSP)
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Under 10%; 32 scholars
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising seniors (current juniors); permanent Massachusetts residents who live and attend school in Massachusetts; within commuting distance of Northeastern; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
You spend the summer doing hands-on laboratory research in Northeastern's engineering, science, and health sciences colleges with faculty and graduate student mentors on projects that range from biomaterials for drug delivery to dark matter mass maps and resilient AI wireless networking. This free six-week research program ends with final research presentations and a poster session where you share your findings. You also attend an Introduction to Engineering seminar series, career and college counseling sessions, and field trips to corporate and government sites.
Who is it best for: Students who want to spend a summer doing hands-on lab research in engineering, science, or health sciences with university mentors and then present their results at a poster session.
8. Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard – Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP)
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Stipend: $3,600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 18 scholars
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (apply during junior year); attend a Massachusetts high school within commuting distance of the Broad; B or better in science and math; enthusiasm for science; no prior research experience required; US citizen, permanent resident, or non-US citizen with employment authorization
You spend six weeks doing original, mentored research at the Broad Institute in areas such as cancer biology, psychiatric disease, chemical biology, computational biology, and infectious disease. The program starts with wet-lab training in the first week; an on-staff instructor meets with you one-on-one each week, and you also attend scientific talks, career-exploration panels, workshops, and a college fair. You finish by making a scientific poster and presenting your results to the Broad community.
Who is it best for: Students who want to try real biomedical research at a leading research institute and explore scientific careers alongside working scientists.
9. Harvard Medical School – Project Success
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 8–9 students
Dates: June 29 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 4
Eligibility: Boston or Cambridge, MA resident; currently in grade 11 or 12; minimum 2.70 GPA; age 16 by June 29; completed algebra, biology, and chemistry; work authorization documents if selected
You spend seven weeks full-time on your own biomedical research project in a Harvard Medical School (HMS) or HMS-affiliated lab, guided by postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and research staff. Project Success has offered Boston and Cambridge students paid lab internships at HMS and its affiliated institutions since 1993. You also join weekly STEM seminars and field trips, such as a radiology imaging program and surgical skills training at Brigham and Women's Hospital's STRATUS Center, and you present your findings at a closing ceremony.
Who is it best for: Students who want hands-on biomedical lab research and an early look at careers in medicine and science through mentorship and hospital visits.
10. High School Apprenticeship Challenge by Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
Location: Host sites across Massachusetts
Stipend: Paid W-2 wages from host employer; MLSC reimburses hosts up to $4,080 per intern (17/hour, six weeks full-time)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; more than 150 interns per year
Dates: May 1 – April 30; part-time or full-time; start dates vary by host
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: At least 16 at internship start; enrolled at an eligible Massachusetts school (Chapter 74 vocational-technical or life sciences program, Gateway City public/charter high school, public high school with 25%+ low-income students, or tuition-free private school serving low-income/underrepresented students), homeschooled in a Gateway City or qualifying low-income district, or enrolled in METCO; recent graduates within two calendar years not attending college
You apply through MLSC's online portal, and approved Massachusetts life sciences companies, research institutions, and incubators review the candidate pool and contact you directly about a paid internship with hands-on learning and a dedicated mentor. The MLSC subsidizes intern wages so small life sciences companies and research institutions can hire you, funding more than 150 internships each year. Depending on your area, you may also be able to join MLSC-funded pre-internship lab training in Brockton, New Bedford, Worcester, or Greater Boston.
Who is it best for: Students who want paid, mentored, hands-on experience in biotechnology, biomedical research, or other life sciences work at a Massachusetts company or research lab.
11. Boston University’s RISE Internship
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Cost: $10,735 residential, $6,415 commuter (2026 rates); $75 application fee; limited need-based financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~7%; up to 100 interns
Dates: Residential: June 27 – August 6; Commuter: June 28 – August 6
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors; U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents
You spend about 40 hours a week in a Boston University lab on research projects designed by your faculty, postdoctoral, or graduate-student mentor, in fields such as astronomy, biomedical engineering, chemistry, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, neuroscience, physics, and public health. You receive an offer of admission only if a faculty member agrees to host you as an intern, after your application is shared with researchers whose work matches your interests. One day a week, you join Practicum students for academic and professional skills workshops, and you present your results at the Poster Symposium at the end of the program.
Who is it best for: Students who want a summer of full-time, mentored lab research in a STEM field and want to learn how to present their scientific findings.
12. Massachusetts General Hospital’s Youth Programs
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Stipend: Paid academic-year and summer internships, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 75 students accepted annually
Dates: Multi-year: 10th-grade career exploration; paid academic-year and summer internships in 11th–12th grade; alumni support through college
Application Deadline: Spring application window; selections finalized in summer
Eligibility: 10th graders at Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers, Revere High School, Chelsea High School, or any Boston public school; 3.0 GPA required
Starting in 10th grade, you explore healthcare fields and career paths with a peer community, then move into paid academic-year and summer internships in 11th and 12th grade alongside college and career advising. Summer placements cover areas such as emergency medicine, radiology and imaging, neurology, pathology and clinical laboratories, and research labs across Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, and Mass Eye and Ear. Trained supervisors mentor you, you attend weekly professional-development workshops, and advising continues after graduation.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore hospital-based healthcare and science careers over several years through paid internships, mentorship, and college planning support.
Can a STEM internship help with your college applications?
A STEM internship can give you concrete experiences to discuss, like running experiments, analyzing data, or presenting results. The strongest material often comes from reflecting on what you learned, how your questions changed, and how you handled real responsibility. Specific details like these help show your interest in science or engineering in your own words.
How do you apply for a STEM internship?
Start with each program's official application page to confirm eligibility, deadlines, and requested materials, since requirements vary widely. Prepare a few specific examples of your STEM interest, such as a class project, science fair entry, coding work, or a question you explored on your own. Leave time for every step, as some applications may also include an interview.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are there research opportunities outside biomedical science?
Yes, the university entries extend into engineering, physics, astronomy, mathematics, chemistry, and computer science. These provide a broader subject range than the more specialized laboratory placements focused on cancer, immunology, oral health, and other biological questions.
2. Will research work be accompanied by classes or seminars?
Several entries combine research with structured academic learning. The formats include an introductory week of STEM classes, a twice-weekly immunology course, scientific lectures, journal clubs, and workshops, so laboratory time is only one part of some programs.
3. What will I be expected to produce by the end?
Many research entries specify a poster, oral presentation, written report, or abstract as a final output. Some combine multiple formats, while hospital, industry, and public-engagement roles may emphasize ongoing responsibilities rather than a single research deliverable.
4. Do these opportunities offer pay or charge participation fees?
The list includes paid research placements as well as university programs with participation or application fees. Hourly wages and research stipends are different from the tuition charged by some options. For students exploring a fee-based remote alternative, Ladder Internships offers need-based financial aid.